Mission Moment
Following the service, you are invited to come
downstairs and join in fellowship at "Coffee Time".
This Week in First Church:
- Today, 6:00 p.m. - Celebration Dinner, Church Hall
- Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - Men’s Breakfast
In Portage Hospital: George Ferguson
Rising Above Hardship
Gifts to Presbyterians Sharing support Anamiewigummig (Kenora
Fellowship Centre), which has opened its doors every night for the
past three years. Low income housing is hard to find in this area, and
many people who need emergency shelter come to the centre. No one
is judged, and everyone receives care and respect. The center helps
people like Debra, who once lived a hard life compounded by alcohol
addiction, family violence and family breakdown. She stayed at the
emergency shelter for over a year until she was able to secure a
home. With the center’s help and her own faith, she was able to rise
above
her hardships and now serves in the very same place where she got
the help she needed. Debra is an active, on-call shelter worker for
the center and is an inspiration to others in and around the center.
Coming Up:
Fall Supper Roof Fundraiser - Friday, 8 November
The Men's Breakfast Club and the Finance and Maintenance
Committee have decided to spearhead a Fall Supper to help finance
the new church roof. They have decided on Friday, Nov 8th, and hope
that all of our congregation will pitch in and help them in whatever
way they can. We would like to divide the volunteers into three
groups, so that they are not tied up all day long. We will be
contacting members and asking for your help for one of three times:
Setup, Actual Supper, or Cleanup. We will also be asking ladies for
pies for dessert or salads. Please think about the fall supper and how
you can help out.
Roof Project - As of last Sunday, donations toward the Roof Project
totaled $8,815. Combined with the $10,000 grant from the
Presbytery and the $17,000 loan from the national church (which we
received last week), we now have enough on hand to pay the total
projected cost of the roof replacement. Our first loan payment is due
in December, and payments are due every quarter after that (March,
June, September, and December). Thank you to everyone who has
donated to the roof project so far. The response from the
congregation has been most encouraging!
For Sale - Church Calendars: The Presbyterian Church in
Canada's wall calendar for 2014 is now for sale for the low price of
$5.00! See Margaret Dunn today to place your pre-paid order. Any
profit from the sale of the calendars will go to the WMS.
JOHN KNOX
Since today is Reformation Sunday, the sermon focuses on the life
of John Knox, the great Scottish reformer. Because he participated
in the reform movement in the church, Knox was forced to spend
periods of time in France, England, Germany, and Switzerland. He
was strongly influenced by the teachings of John Calvin in Geneva,
and eventually returned to Scotland to lead the reform movement
there, following Calvin’s teaching. The Church of Scotland became
a “Reformed”, “Calvinist”, or “Presbyterian” church as a result.
Knox is of particular interest to Canadian Presbyterians, since the
Presbyterian Church in Canada is an offshoot of the Church of
Scotland.
Here are some key events in Knox’s life:
Early Years in Scotland (Reign of Henry VIII)
c. 1514 - Knox is born in Haddington, Scotland (the exact year and
date are not known).
1517 - The Reformation begins in Germany, with Martin Luther’s
posting of his “95 Theses”.
1536 - Knox is ordained as a priest. John Calvin, in Switzerland,
publishes his Institutes of the Christian Religion.
1544 - Knox publicly supports the Reformation for the first time.
1546 - Knox’s mentor George Wishart is executed (March).
Cardinal David Beaton is assassinated (May). Martin
Luther (in Germany) dies at the age of 62.
In France and England (Reign of Edward VI)
1547 - Knox is exiled to France for supporting the Reformation, and
is made a galley slave in the French navy for a year and a
half. Henry VIII of England dies; Edward VI becomes king.
1549 - Knox goes to England, and becomes minister of a church in
Berwick, in northern England, near the Scottish border.
Later he serves congregations in Newcastle and
Buckinghamshire.
Exile in Switzerland and Germany (Reign of Mary I)
1553-58 - Due to Queen Mary’s efforts to re-establish the Roman
Catholic Church in England, Knox spends these years in
continental Europe — except for a brief return to Scotland
in 1555-56, during which he is married to Marjory Bowes.
During this period he meets John Calvin in Geneva, and
ministers to congregations of English Protestant exiles in
Frankfurt and Geneva.
Reforming the Church in Scotland (Reign of Elizabeth I)
1559 - Knox returns to Scotland following the death of Queen Mary.
1560 - The Scottish Parliament makes the church in Scotland a
Reformed church. Knox becomes minister of St Giles’
Cathedral in Edinburgh, where he serves for the rest of his
life.
1561 - The First Book of Discipline, outlining the Presbyterian form
of church government, is introduced; also the Scots
Confession, a formal statement of faith.
1564 - Knox’s mentor, John Calvin, dies in Geneva at the age of 55.
1567 - The Scottish Parliament endorses the Reformation.
1572 - Knox dies in Edinburgh (November 24) at the age of 58.
Quotes from John Knox
"You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time."
"No one else holds or has held the place in the heart of the
world which Jesus holds. Other gods have been as devoutly
worshipped; no other man has been so devoutly loved."